Tomorrow · 8:00 PM UTC

Ulster vs Racing 92

Tomorrow · 8:00 PM UTC

Sale Sharks vs Glasgow Warriors

Tomorrow · 8:00 PM UTC

Aviron Bayonnais vs DHL Stormers

Dec 6, 1:00 PM UTC

Saracens F.C. vs ASM-Rugby

Dec 6, 1:00 PM UTC

Stade Francais vs Cardiff

Dec 6, 1:00 PM UTC

Lions vs Benetton

Dec 6, 3:15 PM UTC

Vodacom Bulls vs Union Bordeaux

Dec 6, 3:15 PM UTC

Black Lion vs MHR

Dec 6, 5:30 PM UTC

Lyon OU vs Newcastle Falcons

Dec 6, 5:30 PM UTC

Stade Rochelais vs Leicester Tigers

Dec 6, 5:30 PM UTC

Leinster vs Harlequin F.C.

Dec 6, 8:00 PM UTC

Bath Rugby vs Munster

Dec 6, 8:00 PM UTC

Scarlets vs Bristol Bears

Dec 6, 8:00 PM UTC

Zebre Parma vs US Montauban

Dec 7, 1:00 PM UTC

Section Paloise vs Northampton Saints

Here's The Best Club In The Investec Champions Cup Entering Round 1

Here's The Best Club In The Investec Champions Cup Entering Round 1

The 2025–2026 Champions Cup begins Dec. 5. See how top clubs like DHL Stormers, Toulouse, Leinster and Bordeaux rank across all four pools.

Dec 4, 2025 by Joe Harrington
Rugby Round-Up: Champions Cup Preview

The Investec Champions Cup begins on Dec. 5 across Europe and South Africa as the best clubs from last season’s Top 14, Gallagher PREM and United Rugby Championship battle for the European club rugby title.

Six-time winner Toulouse and four-time champion Leinster Rugby are the betting favorites, but neither enters the championship ranked No. 1 in the FloRugby club rankings.

That honor goes, at least for this week, to the URC table leaders DHL Stormers of Cape Town, who face Bayonne of the Top 14 at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 5 in France.

The Stormers are No. 1 courtesy of a stunning rally in the final 15 minutes to beat Munster Rugby at Thomond Park in Limerick in Round 6 of the URC.

And the Stormers should be improving from here on out. The club was without its Springbok players this weekend with South Africa facing Wales — a 73-0 win — for the No. 1-ranked international team in the world.

The Stormers will face the No. 16-ranked team in the world, Bayonne, in southern France. While the Stormers are 6-0-0, Aviron Bayonne is 7-0-4 in the Top 14 and undefeated at home.

Toulouse is No. 2 following a win over Racing 92. They face the No. 34-ranked team in the world, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, at home. Leinster, 3-0-3 in the URC, is at No. 18 in the world — in large part because of the lack of their stars in the early part of the season. The Dublin club features 14 FloRugby Top 100 players, including 11 in the top 50. Many had limited availability for club play this fall due to the British and Irish Lions Tour.

Here are the best clubs in the Champions Cup by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1 Club Rankings

  • Toulouse (No. 2)
  • Clermont (No. 8)
  • Glasgow Warriors (No. 19)
  • Saracens (No. 24)
  • Sale Sharks (No. 29)
  • Hollywoodbets Sharks (No. 34)

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 Club Rankings

  • Bath Rugby (No. 4)
  • Munster Rugby (No. 5)
  • Toulon (No. 13)
  • Castres (No. 14)
  • Edinburgh Rugby (No. 25)
  • Gloucester (No. 35)

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Club Rankings

  • DHL Stormers (No. 1)
  • Leicester Tigers (No. 11)
  • Aviron Bayonne (No. 16)
  • Leinster Rugby (No. 18)
  • La Rochelle (No. 27)
  • Harlequins (No. 31)

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Club Rankings

  • Section Paloise (No. 2)
  • Northampton Saints (No. 7)
  • Bristol Bears (No. 12)
  • Vodacom Bulls (No. 22)
  • Union Bordeaux-Bègles (No. —) (ranking missing in original source)
  • Scarlets (No. 33)

FloRugby Power Rankings Formula Explained

FloRugby’s Professional Club Rugby Rankings are built on a dynamic rating model that evaluates performance across the major European and South African competitions. The system is designed to compare clubs that never meet in domestic play by placing every match on a common numerical scale.

Each team begins the season with a base rating informed by recent results and squad quality indicators. Every match has a projected outcome generated by comparing the ratings of both clubs and adjusting for location and competition strength. The rating gain or loss after each match is determined by how the actual result compares with that projection.

Teams outperforming expectations rise. Teams falling short drop. The model recognizes close contests, decisive wins and matches where underdogs exceed their predicted performance. It also recognizes sustained form. A club that strings together consistent results across strong opposition will climb more quickly than a team feasting on weaker schedules.

The system does not reveal precise weightings or proprietary calculations, but the guiding idea is simple. A team’s rating reflects the probability it would beat an average opponent on a neutral field at this point in time. Ratings move every week. Form matters. Context matters. The scoreboard matters. The result is a unified ranking that captures the evolving balance of power across Europe and South Africa.

FloRugby Power Ranking Dec. 3, 2025

  1. DHL Stormers    1715.67
  2. Toulouse 1672.62
  3. Pau 1661.83
  4. Bath 1632.12
  5. Munster 1627.16
  6. Cardiff Rugby 1611.98
  7. Northampton Saints 1589.58
  8. ASM Clermont Auvergne 1587.71
  9. Exeter Chiefs 1585.17
  10. Ulster 1583.44
  11. Leicester Tigers 1577.69
  12. Bristol Bears 1576.01
  13. Toulon 1575.71
  14. Castres 1560.74
  15. Stade Francais 1554.16
  16. Bayonne 1553.61
  17. Racing 92 1552.99
  18. Leinster 1547.4
  19. Glasgow Warriors 1540.79
  20. Emirates Lions 1537.06
  21. Montpellier 1536.58
  22. Vodacom Bulls 1498.81
  23. Bordeaux Bègles 1518.08
  24. Saracens 1510.83
  25. Edinburgh 1487.06
  26. Connacht 1474.36
  27. La Rochelle 1472.1
  28. Lyon 1449.84
  29. Sale Sharks 1437.09
  30. Benetton 1430.51
  31. Harlequins 1430.09
  32. Ospreys 1414.23
  33. Scarlets 1411.62
  34. Hollywoodbets Sharks 1409.13
  35. Gloucester Rugby 1401.68
  36. Zebre 1389.03
  37. Dragons 1346.76
  38. Newcastle Red Bulls 1309.74
  39. Montauban 1285.32
  40. Perpignan 1208.72

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 

Friday, Dec. 5

  • 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
  • 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Saturday, Dec. 6

  • 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
  • 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
  • 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Sunday, Dec. 7

  • 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm

Dec. 7-9 (TBD)

  • Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 

Friday, Dec. 12

  • 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Saturday, Dec. 13

  • 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
  • 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Sunday, Dec. 14

  • 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
  • 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 

Friday, Jan. 9

  • 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
  • 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

  • 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
  • 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
  • 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

  • 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
  • 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 

Friday, Jan. 16

  • 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
  • 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

  • 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
  • 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

  • 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
  • 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here's a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Round 1

  • Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
  • Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Round 2

  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3 

  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
  • Sunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Round 4 

  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
  • Sunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2

Round 1 

  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
  • Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
  • Dec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Round 2 

  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
  • Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
  • Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 3

  • Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
  • Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
  • Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 4 

  • Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Round 1 

  • Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Round 2 

  • Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
  • Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Round 3 

  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
  • Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Round 4

  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
  • Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
  • Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Round 1 

  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
  • Sunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Round 2

  • Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
  • Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
  • Sunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Round 3 

  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
  • Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
  • Sunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Round 4

  • Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
  • Sunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
  • Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

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